Robert Joseph "Bob" Balsan

Robert Joseph “Bob” Balsan, Sr., age 77, passed away on January 19, 2020 at his home in Ocean Springs, MS. Bob was born on December 13, 1942 in Bronx, NY. He attended Long Island High School and joined the United States Navy after graduation. He proudly served his country both as a Sailor for the first 10 years, then transferred to the submarine fleet in Charleston, South Carolina where he served on the USS Von Steuban, then later the USS Calhoun. Bob was on the ground floor as a Storekeeper and made multiple trips to and stayed in Kings Bay, Georgia as they were building, the Kings Bay Georgia Naval Base. He was instrumental at the Naval Station Pascagoula/Home Port Pascagoula. All supplies went through his warehouse. Bob continued to work Civil Service at the Seabee Base in Gulfport. He was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal for saving a young child from drowning, 30 years of government service in the Government of the United States, and on the spot time off for extraordinary performance in shipping urgent CASPREP parts in the absent of the Transportation Officer Bob was very active in the local 5699 VFW where he served as Chaplin. He was very active with selling the Buddy Poppy every year. Bob was a former member of the Elks 2501 Lodge. He loved to help stage the Mardi Gras parades and sell beer at the Peter Anderson parades. He would yell “Cold Beer Get Your Cold Beer here”. Bob’s favorite hangout was the Lynchburg. Where every knows your name. He also played darts for them and they got him hooked on Nascar. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Rudolph “Rudy” Balsan and Dorothy “Dot or Dottie” Duffy Balsan; first and second wives, Roxann Irons Balsan and Marilyn V. Balsan; and siblings, Donald and Jimmy Balsan. Survivors include his daughters, Crystal “Kris” Balsan VanBuskirk and Staci L Balsan; son, Robert “Robby” Balsan, Jr.; grandchildren, Tara VanBuskirk Corby husband Brian Corby, Tia M. VanBuskirk, Sera Balsan, Christian Balsan, William Balsan, Krissy Balsan, Kandie Balsan, and Littlefoot Balsan; great-grandchildren, Brian Corby, Jr. and Roxann Goodwin; sister, Linda Balsan Bedell husband George Bedell; sister-in-law, Kathy Balsan; nieces, Laura Balsan Tierney, Leah Bedell, Tammy Bedell, Jennifer Bedell Robinholt, Colleen Balsan, Justine Balsan, and Kristine Balsan; nephews, Richard “Richie” Balsan, “Little “ George Bedell, and Chad Balsan. Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 23, 2020 at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home. A graveside service will follow at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 24, 2020 at Biloxi National Cemetery.